Hotel Mas de la Serra

We went to Mas de la Serra for a private five-day stay with 16 guests in 9 rooms, celebrating our joint 50th birthdays. The setting is spectacular, with beautiful views, a lovely pool, comfortable rooms, and a peaceful, remote location in the Mataraña region. The property has real potential, but the hosting often made us feel like an inconvenience. We’d planned for months, so being asked to delay arrival because rooms weren’t ready was frustrating. When we arrived, Luis, the on-site host, greeted us with rules rather than a warm welcome. During that first conversation he asked my wife if she smoked. She said no, and clarified that nobody in our group smoked, but he said he didn’t believe her and insisted he could smell smoke. After that, Luis regularly dropped in to remind us about house rules, usually focusing on what we couldn’t do. Guests started dreading these visits, and it felt like our stay disrupted the staff’s routine instead of being something they were there to support. The outdoor cushions had all been taken inside without explanation, and we had to ask for them so our guests could sit outside. At first they refused because of a concern about rain that never came. We’d also asked beforehand about using the BBQ and were initially told it wasn’t allowed. Luis later agreed, but only if we got it, set it up, and put it away ourselves. In both cases, staff convenience seemed to come first. Jenny’s cooking was a highlight: the meals were varied, healthy, and generally excellent. Portions were modest, though, with no seconds. The birthday cake was offered instead of dessert, but there was an awkward suggestion we might have to pay extra, even though we’d already paid for the meal. The final morning was another disappointment. At 10pm the night before, we were told we’d need to make our own breakfast because the hosts were taking the day off. We don’t mind them having a break, but breakfast was included in what we’d paid for, and the late notice reinforced the feeling that our stay wasn’t a priority. Alistair, the owner, also seemed disengaged. Booking communication was slow and unhelpful. He was quick to chase payment but couldn’t provide basic information or put us in touch with Luis in advance. He seemed largely uninterested in our experience beyond getting paid. Given all that, we wouldn’t recommend Mas de la Serra unless you’re comfortable with lots of rules and little flexibility. It’s a shame, because the place itself could be something special.